Providing information, education, and training to build knowledge, develop skills, and change attitudes that will lead to increased independence, productivity, self determination, integration and inclusion (IPSII) for people with developmental disabilities and their families.

WASHINGTON,
DC--The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission released a fact sheet
Monday for employers who are thinking about having workers with disabilities do
some or all of their work from home -- a practice known as "teleworking" or
"telecommuting".

The fact sheet uses a step-by-step approach to explain how employers may
support a person to work from home as a reasonable accommodation for their
disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Many businesses across the country already allow or even encourage
workers to telework -- to use computers, telephones and other technologies to
perform work somewhere other than a company office.

"Advances in technology are making telework an increasingly important
option for employers who want to attract and retain a productive workforce,"
said EEOC Chair Cari M. Dominguez in a press statement. "For some people with
disabilities, telework may actually be the difference between having the
opportunity to be among an employer's best and brightest workers and not
working at all."

The fact sheet notes that not every employee with a disability needs or
wants to work from home, and that not every job can be performed at home.
However, workers with disabilities may request teleworking as one option for a
reasonable accommodation.

Employers and employees should discuss the need for telework as a
workplace accommodation, and whether all or some of the job tasks can be
performed from the employee's home.

Monday's announcement was scheduled to coincide with the second
anniversary of President George W. Bush's New Freedom Initiative, his
administration's plan for "the full integration of people with disabilities
into all aspects of American life", the statement read.

The GCDD is funded under the provisions of P.L. 106-402.The federal law also provides funding to theMinnesota Disability Law Center,the state Protection and Advocacy System,and to the Institute on Community Integration,the state University Center for Excellence.The Minnesota network of programs works to increase the IPSII of people with developmental disabilities and families into community life.